Lesson 1 - Cessna 152 - 2 seater aircraft

After my come down from the high I received from seeing such great scenery from my first flight in a microflight, I have to admit I was actually quite disappointed with the experience, mostly because I had been expecting more.  More in terms of hands on with the aircraft, and more in terms of the aircraft itself.  A microlight being smaller and steered with a joystick against a Cessna 2 seater which is a heavier aircraft, slight bigger too with an actual steering column.  I wanted to call it a throttle but the throttle is a completely different thing.  So I decided to try again, this time I looked for a different company and was advised that flying a microlight can be very different from an actual commercial plane.  Of course the flip side of the coin is, that was a sales line, but I decided to give it another go.  I ended up choosing ACS flight school, mostly cause it seems to be well known, and was told that they could "work something out" if I did decide to get my private pilot's license (PPL).

Cessna 152

ACS has 2 schools in Scotland (that I know of anyway), and was advised to go the Perth one as ACS runs their own terminal/hangar (whatever it is as I don't know the technical terms yet) they would be better able to accomodate my requirements.  Their other school is in Cumbernauld (which is of course is closer to home for me).  And with temps dropping a few degrees below freezing at the start of the week, I wasn't sure the lesson would go ahead this morning.  Luckily though the temps climbed today, and the rain has melted the majority of the ice and snow (on the ground anyway).

When I arrived I was waiting a bit on the cushy chairs in the waiting area as my instructor I was told, was still in the air.  Well, at least Perth Airport was much much more easier to find and drive to than Strahaven airfield, but then the names of both companies give it away - "airport" vs "airfield", and "sportflight" (club) vs "school".  It was quite busy with students, pilots and staff cheerily dotting about.  It was late Saturday morning, why wouldn't people be naturally happy?  Though it didn't look like it, we were all inside a hangar.  Cosy.  When it finally was my turn I was first lead down a corridor down the side of the hanger and into a room.  Debrief.  I was asked my experience, I answered done & the instructor came back with a minature plane to give me a summary of the aircraft, controls, rudders, dials and flaps.  Neat.  A quick 5mins later we were out the door and to the back of the hangar.  The door of the Cessna 152 is opened and I'm told how to hop in and buckle in.  Within the cockpit I was then told what was going to happen (control checks), and a talk through of everything that Julian (instructor) was doing to lift the aircraft off the ground.  It was nice to know.  My hands were on the steering column, and my feet on the pedals (rudders) so I would get a feel of things.  The gist of it, steering column to steer left right in the air, rudders to steer left right on the ground.

The weather was a bit misty and cloudy, with occasional rain, but it didn't stop the Cairngorm scenery - mountains with snow on top of it, looking absolutely stunning!  The frozen rivers were also tempting, I just wanted to skate on them, or morbidly run across it to see if it cracks!  As we were in the air I got a run through of all the controls, what they did and even a feel of what they did as Julian change the settings to let me steer or not steer.  Even though we were in the air for an hour it seriously felt it was only minutes!  So much to learn, most of it would be through experience and practise.  Excited I think I'm sold this time now as I walk away happy and holding a wad of information sheets, definitely something to think about.

Filling up the engine

So if you just want to see scenery, going on a flight in a microlight is fine, but if you want the actual hands on plane experience you need a trial lesson in a Cessna (or proper commercial) aircraft.  For me both experiences were complete opposites.  Microlight - great weather, disappointed with aircraft.  Cessna - poor weather, loved the flight experience.  So for me as always, hands on all the way!

Microflight - Trial lesson

I seriously couldn't pick a better day to take to the beautifully bright blue skies!  The weather was mild, the skies were clear and the wind was quite calm.  Perfect.
 
Not sure what to expect when I got there, getting there was a venture in itself!  Though Strathaven airfield is on the map, there are not routes available when you ask to give you directions to it, and I soon found out why...  Going onto serious countryside roads for the last mile or two I thought I was driving on pavements as I battled with walkers, cyclists and an oncoming car for road space.  And it was a tight squeeze for two cars, on most parts of the stretch of road there isn't enough space for 2 cars so we're into the ditches.  Then the last 500yds the road is a mud track with HUGE potholes!  LEFT, RIGHT, small left quick right, 2nd gear, slow, I arrive, tyres intact!

"OK to go"
Aircraft is controlled by the joystick by my left hand

So I park in the car park and look out onto the field where the run way is carved out as the grass on it is cut super short like on a golf course.  100yds from the car park is the office building consists of about 3 rooms with a greenhouse attachment to the front of it.  It felt more like a small home than an office building, especially since the reception area consists of the greenhouse space and the adjoining room behind it, all kitted out with sofas.  A kitchen and a small office room is behind the reception area.  Nope, nothing "office" or "business" feel at all about the place, but then this place is for the leisure flyers.  Behind this building are 2 large hangers.    Jim, who's the owner of the plane - which he did tell me the name of the model but I've since forgotten, pulled by the propeller the plane and shifted it onto the grass runway.  Only, I guess approx 10feet long the plane was tiny.  And the fact that when the plane was swung round and I had to dunk to avoid the wings from whacking me up the side of the head tells you just how short the thing is too!  Not quite what I was expecting but as long as she flew I was good!  

 View more photos, click here! 

Though tiny the thing is like a Mini; small on the outside, deceivingly spacious inside.  Then my second expectation was shattered, no throttle, "what?"  Yes, this plane is controlled by a joystick, yes a joystick its that simple, and it needs only 100metres to take off.  100metres!

Once in the air Jim was telling me about the instruments and how the thing flew - how to turn and let me had a go.  Then he talked about doing flips and things.  I answered "do you have a sick bag on this thing?" "No I don't", "I'm just saying..."  And no he didn't do any flips or 360s of any sorts, I think it was enough that we went nose dive 20knots in a second as my body went "uggggh".  Attribute the feeling of driving really fast on a hilly road and your car goes at speed down one hill, ugggggh.  Did I mention I don't like roller coasters?

View more photos, click here!  

And the weather once we were up there, wow...  1st of all its amazing the amount of geen there is in Scotland!  Then we flew above the biggest wind farm in the UK (or did he say Scotland), which I don't think is that bad looking.  Then we flew towards Millport, an island just off the West Coast where Largs, about an hour and a half drive away, in just 15-20mins.  As we flew towards the sea the sun was setting and so the rays was hitting off the water.  Reflections and huge contrasts in blue and yellows made the scenery absolutely stunning!  I couldn't planned for such a wonderful day.  I was hoping it wouldn't be raining when today came, but needless to say I got more than that.  Though I was allowed to steer once we were in the air, I think I was too busy oogling at the scenery to pay much attention to that, especially since the plane didn't need much steering, kinda like a car on cruise control, you don't need to do much.

Lasting only a short 45mins in the air, 1 hours in total, the only thing I didn't like was the coming in to land as my ears started to pop - ouch.  Other than that, fabby fun!  Oh, if you decide to try it yourself wrap up it can get quite chilly up in the air, and check out Sportflight Scotland

Flying journal – The beginning

After a much needed catch up with a high school friend this weekend, we end up laughing at young impressionable minds as we mimic our favourite tv shows and end up talking about selling old school blazers. Now that I think about it is it really just a “young thing”, impressionable minds that is and not torn and worn old school blazers. How I got my interest in flying was from watching Flying Wild Alaska. A documentary which follows a family where the father is the founder of Alaska's local airline company. Out there there are no roads and the only form of transport between town to town is by bush planes (small commercial aircrafts). Of course my love of the outdoors and exploration lures my interest in Alaska. The idea of flying is the added cherry on top. If driving brings you independence, flying must surely bring you freedom!? And so begins my flying journal.

Cessna 152 - i.e. the rookie's plane

Deciding to just “go for it” I booked a trial flight with a microlight company. Not knowing the difference between a microlight and a commercial plane I was disappointed with the experience. For those who are interested a microlight is a smaller aircraft that usually just has enough room to seat 2 people. Microlights from what I gather also use joysticks to control the direction of the plane whether as a commercial plane can vary anywhere from 2 people seater planes upwards. The commercial plane also uses a handle to steer the plane, more what I was looking for as this is a bush plane! Being me I decided to give it another go but this time with a proper flight school, none of this leisure rubbish. After more researching later I finally settled on ACS Flight school as they seem to have both the vast choice in different courses and experience. From here I have yet to look back, but then I've only had a few hours lessons. So far it's a little too early to tell how far I'll progress. Right now I'm just trying to (still) learn!